EP3711304B1 - Method for displaying text content, and associated device and programs - Google Patents

Description

1. Field of the invention.

The present invention relates to a method for displaying graphic content, representing in particular textual elements. More particularly, the invention relates to a display method improving the reading of content, in particular textual content, for people subject to dyslexia.

2. State of the art.

The documents EP 2 339 842 A1 , WO 2014/110553 A1 And EP 1 571 644 A1 describe methods for displaying text content. In particular, the document EP 1 571 644 A1 relates to a liquid crystal display which prevents the appearance of blurring when displaying moving images, by simulating a pulse-type display.

Dyslexia is commonly defined as a set of reading disorders that appear in childhood. These are specific learning disabilities whose causes appear complex and have been and still are the subject of numerous studies in various fields.

It is generally excluded to consider that the causes of dyslexia can be solely sensory, social or psychological.

Studies in the field of neuroscience suggest that it could be a specific neurological disorder.

Progress made in the field of medical imaging has been able to highlight the role of certain areas of the brain in the processes of reading and mastering language.

The solutions provided to treat dyslexia disorders are based on work and play activities according to the difficulties specific to each subject. The objective of such accompaniment is to bring to the subject object of disorders an autonomy in terms of reading. Known methods are developed around work in fields such as psychology, psychomotricity and orthoptics, for example.

Recently, studies have been conducted, establishing a correlation between peculiarities specific to the mechanism of vision and the presence of specific disorders of dyslexia. The publication "Left-right asymmetry of the Maxwell spot centroids in adults without and with dyslexia ( Le Floch A, Ropars G. 2017, Proc. R. Soc. B 284: 20171380, http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.1380 ) mentions the role of the foveas, located in the human eye, in the construction of the images perceived, at the cerebral level, and the fact that identical or substantially identical characteristics for the two eyes of the same subject lead to dysfunctions in him in the process of vision and phonological processing at the brain level. The transmission of a mirror image from one hemisphere to the other, for example, significantly disrupts the process of reading graphic elements or textual content in subjects with disorders characteristic of dyslexia. Disorders related to fixation instability and/or posturological instability, or even binocular convergence defects related to the oculomotor muscles, can lead to visual clutter such as the mirror effect.

3. Summary of Invention.

The invention makes it possible to improve at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a method of displaying, in a content rendering device, a graphic content. The proposed method comprises an alternation of display periods, during which all or part of the graphic content is displayed, and periods of absence of display, during which the graphic content is not displayed, according to successive periodic cycles operated at a predetermined frequency Fd. Each cycle has a duration T and includes a display period of duration T1 followed or preceded by a period of non-display of duration T2. The duration T1 is within an interval of values ranging from 15 to 30% of the duration T of said cycles.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined frequency Fd is defined by a user of a device implementing the display method according to the invention.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined frequency is comprised in an interval of values ranging from 60 to 90 Hz, thanks to a tunable system then operating as a visual anti-cluttering device.

The method implemented takes advantage of the Hebbian mechanisms in the neurons of the cortex. Advantageously, the use of a range of frequencies from 60 Hz makes it possible to overcome the effects of blinking perceptible by the human eye, the limit of perception of blinking by the eye being around of 60 Hz, for humans (excluding animal species and insects).

According to one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined frequency is selected discretely, that is to say from among a plurality of predetermined frequencies in the aforementioned frequency interval.

According to a variant of the embodiment, the frequency Fd varies over time, in order to further facilitate, in certain cases, the elimination of visual clutter and binocular stability.

According to one embodiment, the frequency Fd varies increasing by successive steps up to a maximum value according to a first speed, called growth speed, then varies decreasing by successive steps until a minimum value according to a second speed, called rate of decay, the increasing and decreasing variations repeating iteratively over time.

According to one embodiment, said decrease rate is equal to said increase rate.

According to one embodiment, said successive steps are of equal duration.

According to one embodiment, said successive steps vary in duration so that the value of said frequency Fd changes according to a triangle, saw or sinusoid waveform between said maximum value and said minimum value.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the duration T1 of the display periods varies over time.

The invention also relates to a display device comprising a graphic content restitution module configured to alternate display periods, during which all or part of the graphic content is displayed, and periods of absence of display, during which the graphic content is not displayed, according to successive cycles operated at a predetermined frequency. Each cycle has a duration T and includes a display period of duration T1 followed or preceded by a period of non-display of duration T2. According to the invention, the display device is further configured so that the duration T1 of the display periods is comprised in an interval of values ranging from 15 to 30% of the duration T of the cycles.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined frequency of the cycles alternating between display and non-display periods is included in an interval of values ranging from 60 to 90 Hz.

The invention also relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the method described above when this program is executed on a computer. Computer is understood here as any playback device comprising a control unit and means for displaying content received or stored, such as, by way of non-limiting examples, a screen, a television, a tablet, a computer fixed or portable, a smartphone, a smart watch, a display headset.

According to the invention, the alternation of display and non-display periods of the graphic content to be represented allows a "focusing" of the brain of a subject viewing this displayed graphic content, on an image representative of the displayed content, then, a disappearance of this same image from the sight of the subject before it is transmitted in the form of a mirror image between a cerebral hemisphere and the other cerebral hemisphere of this subject looking at the restored content. The time required for the brain to transmit an image, perceived by the eye, between one hemisphere and the other hemisphere, under form of mirror image for the latter, is of the order of 10 ms. Thus, the brain favors the transmitted image over its mirror image, and the existing confusion in the subject who presents a strong similarity of the characteristics of his two foveas, is less or appreciably diminished for the reading of the graphic content, in particular when this content is representative of one or more textual contents.

Advantageously, the use of a switch configured to selectively display graphic content according to an "ordinary" display method (permanent display of the graphic content) or according to a display method implementing the present invention (alternation of periods of display and non-display) allows a user subject to dyslexic disorders to compare his usual performance in reading/viewing (obtained with the ordinary display) with his performance obtained under control of the display method according to the invention after possible optimization of its own parameters (frequency and duty cycle parameters allowing the user to obtain better viewing comfort).

4. List of Figures.

• la figure 1 est un schéma de représentation d'un signal Ed de commande (contrôle) d'affichage selon un mode de réalisation particulier et non limitatif de l'invention.
• la figure 2 est une représentation structurelle de l'architecture d'un dispositif d'affichage DISP selon un mode de réalisation particulier et non-limitatif de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood, and other particularities and advantages will become apparent on reading the description which follows, the description making reference to the appended drawings, among which:

• there figure 1 is a diagram representing a display command (control) signal Ed according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the invention.
• there figure 2 is a structural representation of the architecture of a display device DISP according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

5. Detailed description of embodiments of the invention.

There figure 1 is a temporal representation of a signal Ed for displaying and erasing control of a content to be represented, in a display device (for rendering content), according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the invention. The signal Ed varies according to the time t and periodically takes two successive states. According to the preferred embodiment, an assertion of the signal Ed in the high state authorizes the display of a graphic content on a rendering element of a display device DISP and erases, prevents or inhibits the display of the content graph considered when the signal Ed is in the low state. The signal Ed is a periodic signal of predetermined frequency Fd such that Fd=1/(T1+T2). T1 is the signal activation period, i.e. the display period of the pattern in the display device and T2 is the so-called non-display period, during which the signal is inactive, or in other words the period during which the graphic content is erased or its display is inhibited or prevented. The terms "graphic content" are to be interpreted here as any content to be represented and made up of elementary elements such as, for example, pixels, so that the content represents elements of various shapes and in particular one or several textual contents constructed from signs or symbols of one or more alphabets.

Thus a textual content corresponds to an interpretable content in one or more languages, capable of being read and interpreted by a subject, user, positioned so as to look at the display device for a reading or viewing operation. Such a device is, by way of example, a restitution screen, a computer, a touchscreen tablet or not, a smartphone, a smart watch, a digital book device, a guidance or vehicle traffic assistance device. or pedestrians, the list of these examples being of course non-exhaustive.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the duty cycle T1/(T1+T2) between the display and non-display periods, of durations T1 and T2 respectively, has a value between 15% and 30% of the cycle and the frequency Fd of variation of the signal Ed is between 60 Hz and 90 Hz.

Preferably, the frequency of the signal is equal to 70 Hz or 84 Hz and the duty cycle T1/(T1+T2) is equal to 20%.

Advantageously, the control signal can easily be forced for a prolonged period into its state associated with a display, which corresponds to a disengagement of the display method according to the invention. It would thus be possible not to implement the display method according to the invention in the case where, for a non-dyslexic subject, visual discomfort would appear.

Advantageously, it is possible to refine the adjustment of the frequency Fd in the range of values described in order to adapt the period T to the sensitivity of a user of the content restitution device DISP, in the frequency range indicated. Indeed, each individual has a specific sensitivity in terms of vision and more or less perceives variations in display frequency. Thus, a fine adjustment can be made accessible to the user via an adjustment button, a slider, implemented in hardware or via a graphical user interface (graphical elements of a menu, for example).

There picture 2 is a structural representation of a display device DISP according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the invention. This figure represents the overall architecture of the content restitution device DISP, also commonly called a display device. The device DISP comprises two main modules which are a control unit CTRLU and a display module DISPMOD. The control unit CTRLU is the heart of the system in terms of control and conventionally comprises one or more microcontrollers connected to volatile and non-volatile storage memories. Volatile memories are mainly used for all the operations useful for the implementation of the overall system, such as the execution of one or more software or hardware drivers. Of course, the control unit CTRLU includes all the usual elements implemented in such an architecture, such as, by way of example, a power supply, one or more reset circuits, a power supply supervision circuit, a power interface, one or more clock circuits, digital and analog input/output ports, one or more several temperature probes, a mass storage unit (hard disk, flash memory or an evolution of these components), interrupt inputs, wired or wireless communication ports, etc. The list of these elements is not exhaustive. The architectural details of the DISP control unit are not further described insofar as these are not useful for understanding the invention.

The display module DISPMOD is a graphics controller adapted to the representation of one or more graphic and textual contents on a screen, tactile or not, from data representative of this content, stored in a display memory. The display memory can contain several graphic planes, which can be superimposed on the display. Thus, for example, a graphics plane P1 can be contained in an area M1 of the display memory, a plane P2 can be contained in an area M2 of the display memory, and the display module DISPMOD can control the display of the plane P1 and of the plane P2 independently of each other, while being able to represent them simultaneously in total or partial superposition when the two planes P1 and P2 are activated simultaneously.

The display memory can be specific to the DISPMOD module or included in the data memory of the control unit CTRLU. All the architectural details of the DISP control unit are not described here insofar as these are not useful for understanding the invention. It is the ability to inhibit the display of one or more graphic planes, under software or hardware control, and according to the method described, which is important to advantageously allow the brain of a subject to favor an image rather than its mirror image. , perceived from the display device DISP implementing the method according to the invention. Advantageously, this makes it possible to consequently help the reading and deciphering of textual content, in a subject with dyslexic disorders.

Advantageously, the control unit CTRLU comprises at output a display control (or validation) signal Ed, connected to the input of the display module DISPMOD, making it possible to temporarily validate or inhibit the display of one or several graphic plan(s) (P1, P2).

Thus, when the signal is activated by positioning in the high state (for example), the display of the plane in correspondence, or of all the planes according to the current configuration, is activated. Conversely, when the signal Ed is positioned in its inactive state (low state, for example), the display of the graphic plane in correspondence, or of all the graphic planes according to the configuration, is inhibited. This corresponds to a “non-display” phase of the graphic content (disappearance of the content for a subject looking at the device DISP.

In other words, the variations of the display control signal Ed, operated by the control unit CTRLU, at a frequency Fd, can act on the restitution of a graphic content so that this graphic content is displayed and inhibited (not displayed) periodically on the display device DISP according to successive cycles of total length T and operated at a predetermined frequency Fd. According to the invention, the successive display periods T1 each have a duration comprised in an interval of values ranging from 15 to 30% of the duration T of said operated cycles.

According to a variant of the invention, the control signal Ed can be integrated into the graphics controller having its own control unit and being configured to validate and inhibit the display of a content according to the method described (alternation of display and non-display at the frequency indicated above and with a duty cycle as specified above).

The frequency Fd of the cycles (each comprising a period of opening of the space of vision and a period of closing of the space of vision) is between 60 and 90 Hz.

According to one embodiment, the frequency Fd is fixed.

According to another embodiment, the frequency Fd varies over time.

According to a particular embodiment, the frequency Fd varies increasing in successive steps up to a maximum value according to a first speed, called growth speed, then varies decreasing in successive steps down to a minimum value according to a second speed, said speed of decrease, the increasing and decreasing variations being repeated iteratively in time.

According to a particular embodiment, the rate of decrease is equal to the rate of increase.

According to a particular embodiment, the successive steps are of equal duration.

According to another particular embodiment, the successive steps vary in duration so that the value of said frequency Fd evolves according to a triangle, saw or sinusoid waveform between said maximum value and said minimum value.

Advantageously, the duration T1 of the display periods varies over time by changing continuously or discontinuously between limit values ranging from 15 to 30% of the duration T of the cycles. It is understood here by “continuously” an evolution by increment of successive steps of equal durations.

The phenomenon of wobulation thus created and applied to the predetermined frequency Fd (variation of the frequency Fd) makes it possible to scan a large number of frequencies between 60 Hz and 90 Hz, some of which will be more effective for the reading aid. These more effective frequencies vary according to the dyslexic subject. By scanning all the frequencies between 60 and 90 Hz, the device of the invention requires no prior adjustment and becomes effective for a large number of users. This wobulation phenomenon thus makes it possible, and in certain cases, to further reduce the problems associated with dyslexic disorders.

The same advantage results from variations in the duration T1 of the display periods.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but applies to any method of displaying graphic content, including in particular textual elements, implementing successive operations of display and non-periodic display of this graphic content, on a display device, according to successive cycles operated at a predetermined frequency Fd such that the display periods Successive T1 each have a duration comprised in an interval of values ranging from 15 to 30% of the duration T operated cycles. The invention also applies to any device implementing the aforementioned method.

Claims (12)

1. A method for improving the reading of content, especially text content, for persons suffering from dyslexia, and comprising the display, in a content rendering device (DISP), of graphic content,

   said method being characterized in that it comprises an alternation of display periods, during which all or part of the graphic content is displayed, and periods of absence of display, during which the graphic content is not displayed, according to successive periodic cycles performed at a predetermined frequency F_d,

   each cycle having a duration T and comprising a display period of duration T₁ followed or preceded by a non-display period of duration T₂, said frequency F_d being defined by the relation F_d = 1 / [T₁+T₂], wherein the frequency F_d is comprised in a range of values from 60 to 90 Hz, and characterized in that

   the duration T₁ is comprised in an interval of values greater than or equal to 15%, and less than 30%, of the duration T of said cycles.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the frequency F_d is equal to 70 Hz or 84 Hz and the duty cycle T₁ / [T₁+T₂] is equal to 20%.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frequency F_d varies over time.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined frequency F_d varies by increasing in successive steps to a maximum value according to a first speed, referred to as increase speed, and then varies by decreasing in successive steps to a minimum value according to a second speed, referred to as decrease speed, the increasing and decreasing variations repeating iteratively over time.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said decrease speed is equal to said increase speed.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said successive steps are of equal durations.
7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said successive steps vary in duration such that the value of said frequency F_d varies according to a triangular, sawtooth or sinusoidal waveform between said maximum value and said minimum value.
8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the duration T₁ of said display periods varies over time.
9. The display method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said display device is included in the following list: rendering screen, computer, tablet, tactile tablet, telephone, smartphone, smartwatch, e-book, guide or apparatus to aid the circulation of vehicles or pedestrians.
10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said predetermined frequency F_d is defined by a user.
11. A display device (DISP) for use in the treatment of dyslexia disorders, the device comprising a module (DISPMOD) for rendering graphic content,
    characterized in that said display device (DISP) is configured to alternate display periods, during which all or part of the graphic content is displayed, and periods of absence of display, during which the graphic content is not displayed, according to successive cycles performed at a predetermined frequency F_d, each cycle having a duration T and comprising a display period of duration T₁ followed or preceded by a non-display period of duration T₂, in that said display device is configured so that the frequency F_d is comprised in a range of values from 60 to 90 Hz, and being characterized in that the duration T₁ is comprised in an interval of values greater than or equal to 15%, and less than 30%, of the duration T of said cycles.
12. A computer program product, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for executing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, when said program is executed on a computer.

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